Martin Brundle Analyzes the Controversial Two-Stop Strategy for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix

Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports commentator, Martin Brundle, has delved deeper into the two-stop strategy rule, specifically enforced for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. During the race, Brundle, alongside David Croft in the Sky Sports commentary box, expressed his disapproval of drivers intentionally slowing down to create a gap for their teammate, facilitating a more efficiently timed pit stop.

A Closer Look at the Rule Change and Its Implications

After some reflection on the race, Brundle shared his insights in his latest Sky Sports column. He acknowledged that while he “won’t criticise anybody for trying in good faith to improve the show,” he felt further refinements to the rule change should have been considered regarding the timing of pit stops.

Brundle expressed his surprise that it wasn’t mandated for one of those stops to be taken by, say, half distance, or maybe earlier. He reasoned that teams at the back of the field may as well cycle through their stops relatively early with little to lose, while those at the front of the field would take their second stop late to maximize opportunities related to safety cars and red flags.

Brundle also noted that teams could use one car as a “sacrificial lamb,” driving slowly to help their other car maintain the necessary 21-second gap for a pit stop. We saw this tactic employed by teams such as Williams and Racing Bulls during the race, with team chief James Vowles apologizing to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff for these actions during the race.

Wolff explained to Motorsport.com and other media following the race: “He sent me a text in the race. ‘I’m sorry. We had no choice given what happened ahead.’ I answered, ‘We know.’

The Controversial Slow Pace and Its Impact on F1

Brundle described the slow pace as “alarming,” but explained that “you can’t blame them” when the overall objective is to get both cars competing for points. He concluded by stating that seeing some cars off pace with “a frustrated queue behind them” was “not pretty, or impressive, but effective for some. But hardly what F1 stands for.